Senior Buyer Womenswear 12 Month FTC

Summary
From Merchandising and Marketing - Product Development and Design, through to Supply Chain and Space Planning - our mission is to bring stylish wardrobe, home and beauty essentials to our customers via an easy, inspiring shopping experience online and in store that will delight them every time.

As we accelerate the transformation of our business to suit the changing needs of our customer, we need results-orientated colleagues that not only have a passion for our product, but a strong team working ethos, creativity and a healthy commercial aim to join us on our journey.

To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.

All the details

What's in it for you...

Being a part of M&S is exactly that - playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We're an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special...

• After completing your probationary period, you'll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you'll do...

As the Senior Buyer on Womenswear your key accountabilities will include:

• Promote & drive a clear understanding of M&S' customer, ensuring the segments and demographics needs are understood and put at the heart of the product offer.
• Work with teams to create, develop, and deliver product that excites the customer, sets M&S apart from their competitors and promotes the brand globally whilst ensuring the commercial targets are met; presenting strategy and range as appropriate and gaining buy in from the Leadership team.
• Work with Design to interpret and adapt to market trends and direction, ensuring that the conceptual range developed is differentiating and targeted to the needs of the customer, driving a digital mind-set through clear leadership on the online product strategy.
• To analyse historical sales in line with trends and design direction to manage product mix parameters including price architecture, colour balance, shape and margin to deliver a highly commercial and balanced range.
• Work in collaboration with Sourcing Offices globally to develop appropriate supply routes enabling the Department to react to trade, as well as negotiating the best prices and lead times with supplier to achieve the gross margin buying target. Contribute to the development of new / compelling deal mechanics for the customer that will drive business whilst maintaining brand integrity.
• Understand and take accountability for achieving/exceeding profit targets.
• Provide leadership and direction to the buying team as well as Sourcing Office product merchandisers to promote and foster a global team. Maintain strong relationships with other functions linking into the Business Unit (e.g. Marketing, Press, M&S.com, International).
• To demonstrate expert knowledge of the Departmental finished goods and materials supply base and support processes to ensure M&S' scale and buying power is fully leveraged.

Who you are

Your skills & experience will include:

• Working to at least Senior Buyer in a fast paced fashion retailer. Technical Knowledge of either Swimwear or Lingerie is required. Proven track record of developing and trading highly commercial ranges that exceed sales / profit targets.
• Ability to initiate and build strong relationships with Design, Merchandising and Technology and Global Sourcing Offices where used.
• In-depth knowledge of cost price negotiations and global sourcing and ability to collaborate with colleagues in Global Sourcing Offices (where used) to develop the supply base.
• To develop and build a comprehensive product range including packaging which satisfies all customers' future requirements.
• Good understanding of global retail market place with the ability to identify relevant product trends.
• Basic understanding of Merchandise Planning and ability to understand M&S Buying systems End to End and manage systems accountabilities for the Department.
• Managing ambiguity effectively - providing clear guidance and planning to teams at all times. Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead, coach and manage people to support development and drive success. Multi task orientated with the ability to work to tight deadlines to the Buying critical path. Proactively agree to take on Buying Lead/ Head of Buying responsibilities where required.

Everyone's welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We're disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We're transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together. If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.